Penal Settlement Norfolk Island: The Early Years 1825 – 1828
This booklet provides a historical overview of the Penal Settlement on Norfolk Island during its early years from 1825 to 1828, detailing its establishment, conditions, and significant events, collated for the Norfolk Island Penal Settlement 200th Anniversary hosted by Baunti Tours Norfolk Island in June 2025.
Establishment of the Penal Settlement: The penal settlement on Norfolk Island was re-established in June 1825 to house the colony’s most severe offenders, led by Captain Richard Turton. The settlement aimed for security and self-sufficiency during its founding phase.- Conditions of the Settlement: The settlement gained notoriety for its harsh conditions, described by NSW Governor Ralph Darling as a place of extreme punishment for the most depraved male convicts.
- Initial Population: Military personnel, families, and convicts, with 57 male convicts and several women and children arriving on the brig Brutus in June 1825.
- Agricultural Development: The prisoners quickly began agriculture, cultivating wheat, maize, and various vegetables, while also repairing existing colonial buildings to create a habitable environment.
- Convict Uprisings: The settlement faced significant unrest, including a convict uprising in September 1826, where prisoners attacked guards, resulting in fatalities and further escape attempts.
- Mutiny on the Wellington: In December 1826, a mutiny occurred aboard the ship Wellington as it approached Norfolk Island, leading to piracy charges against the convicts involved.
- Further Transportation of Convicts: Additional convicts were sent to the island in 1826 to 1828, including those involved in the mutiny, leading to an increase in the population and further tensions.
- Legacy of the Penal Settlement: From 1825 to 1855, approximately 6,500 convicts were transported to Norfolk Island, and the ruins of the penal settlement today on Norfolk Island are a significant historical site reflecting the harsh realities of penal re-transportation in Australia.
Norfolk Island Second Settlement 200th Anniversary June 2025
